Station Details

Leigh-On-Sea

Station NameLeigh-On-Sea
Station CodeLES
Station Ownerc2c
Developable Area23.47ha
Development Capacity1,760 homes (at 75dph)
Local Planning AuthoritySouthend-on-Sea
2021 Housing Delivery Test - Homes Required3,041
2021 Housing Delivery Test - Homes Delivered947
2021 Housing Delivery Test - Score31%
2021 Housing Delivery Test - ConsequencePresumption
Green BeltLondon
Green Belt Area23.47ha ( 100% of the potential development area)
Network Rail RegionEast of England
Network Rail Sub-RegionEssex
Passengers, 2020 - 2021479,582
Passengers, 2019 - 20202,315,160
UK Station Passenger Rank (Use)321

Development Potential

England's busiest station (apart from those serving airports) had 4,170,558 passenger movements in the period 2019-2020. The station with the least was 68. Leigh-On-Sea station had 2,315,160 passengers enter or exit it during this period. That's roughly 6,360 people per day.

For a station with this number of passengers passing through it each year a density of 75 homes per hectare is reasonable, based on its proximity to major population centres and existing infrastructure.

Leigh-On-Sea is located within the East of England railway region. The potential area for development around the station (excluding existing buildings, national parks, flood zones, public green space, protected habitats, areas of outstanding natural beauty, world heritage sites and surface water) is approximately 23.47ha.

Assuming an appropriate (but not prevailing) development density of 75 dwellings per hectare, this area has a development capacity of around 1,760 homes.

The station sits within Southend-on-Sea planning authority, which in 2021 achieved a Housing Delivery Test Score of 31%, having delivered 947 homes from a target of 3,041. As a result of this score, the authority is subject to a 'presumption in favour of sustainable development', according to the NPPF.

The total capacity of all Southend-on-Sea's stations is 1,760 homes. That's 58% of its total 2021 Housing Delivery Test requirement.

Taking green belt into account, the capacity of Southend-on-Sea's stations is 0 homes without building on protected land. That's 0% of its total 2021 Housing Delivery Test requirement.